Bachelor of Fine Arts

To apply for admission to the Intermediate Year (first year) of the BFA, you need to have met University Entrance requirements, and achieved NCEA Level 3 Visual Arts in one or more subjects (or the equivalent in other secondary school qualifications).

It is also recommended that you have at least 14 credits in each of two other NCEA Level 3 subjects (or equivalent) that are not practical art subjects.

All applicants also need to submit an application form, a letter of introduction, and a portfolio of work.

How to apply

Entry to the first year of the Bachelor of Fine Arts is limited. Send your application materials to the School of Fine Arts Reception by 15 November:

• the Application for Fine Arts Intermediate course form
• a letter of introduction
• a portfolio of work, including a written statement.

You are encouraged to apply as early as possible, and to visit Te Kura Kōwaiwai | Ilam School of Fine Arts before making your application. You should expect to be advised of acceptance by the end of November.

One a case-by-case basis, we may accept late applications. Please contact the Fine Arts Administrator at creativeartsadmin@canterbury.ac.nz.

Portfolio of work

Your application should include a portfolio of recently completed art and/or design work.

The portfolio must include 12 examples of work from NCEA (or equivalent) practical arts subjects. The format should be in colour and can be submitted in an A4 or A3 folder or as a single file PDF either on a USB drive, attached to an email, or shared via a reputable file sharing service (eg, weTransfer or Dropbox).

This is your opportunity to demonstrate:

• your competency and ability in artmaking – so please make sure you include your best work. We also need to see aspects of your methodology; examples of preliminary sketches are important here.
• your best possible presentation of work. There are a number of formatting requirements for the supply of your work portfolio – please see the application form for details.
• your ability to express your thinking in a written statement. This is your chance to demonstrate a critical understanding of how the work operates, the decisions you made, and what you are trying to address through your work.

For more information on the application process for the Intermediate Year, go to Te Kura Kōwaiwai | Ilam School of Fine Arts website.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts requires a total of 480 points:

• 90 points of compulsory Fine Arts courses
• 45 points of compulsory Art History and Theory and/or Cinema Studies courses
• 270 points towards a specialist studio subject
• 75 points from courses in Arts or other degrees.

The first year of the degree is called the Fine Arts Intermediate Year and includes three compulsory courses (90 points), as well as 30 points of 100-level Art History and Theory courses.

On passing the Intermediate Year, you will gain a place in one of you two preferred studio subjects. Your grades in the Intermediate Year will influence your choice of subject.

In the second, third, and fourth years of the BFA, you will specialise in the one studio subject, and complete courses in Art History and Theory or Cinema Studies, and other subject areas.

The degree takes 4 years of full-time study, or can be studied part-time for up to 6 years.

Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours

You may be accepted into the Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours programme, based on your results in the previous years of the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

You must have completed your third year of the BFA, and completed 30 points of 300-level ARTH or CINE courses with a B grade or better, and achieved a B grade or better in their 300-level studio subject course.

If you are eligible, during your fourth year of study you will instead take FINA450 Honours Research.

See the Regulations for the Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours for more information.

Double degrees

It is possible to study a BFA with another degree, such as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science.

Find out more information about Double degrees.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts is a highly flexible degree, allowing studio practice in one area of Fine Arts, introductory courses in Art History and Theory, and courses from subjects within other degrees.

See ‘How do I plan my degree?’ above for an example degree structure diagram.

Compulsory courses

In the first year of the degree, called the Fine Arts Intermediate Year, you will complete the following compulsory courses:

• FINA101 What is Practice?
• FINA102 Communities of Practice
• FINA103 Studio Practice
• Two 100-level ARTH courses

During the second year, you will also need to complete one 200-level course in ARTH (or CINE if majoring in Film or Photography).

Fine Arts majors

UC offers five studio specialisations in the Bachelor of Fine Arts. On passing the Intermediate Year, you will gain a place in one of the following majors:

• Film
• Graphic Design
• Painting
• Photography
• Sculpture

Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours

Students that achieve good results during the three years of the degree may be approved for entry to the Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours programme at their fourth year.

You will need to include at least one 300-level course in ARTH (or CINE for Film and Photography students) and achieve a B grade or better in your third year courses to be eligible.

Students accepted into the BFA(Hons) will take FINA450 Honours Research instead of the usual fourth-year courses in the BFA.